This Week's Opposition: Leyton Orient

The Blues’ second outing to The New Lawn Stadium ended in triumph as we head into the second round of the Carabao Cup. A brace from Kusini Yengi and a goal from Swanson saw Pompey go from 1-0 down to secure a 3-1 win against Forest Green Rovers in midweek.

This weekend, John Mousinho will be hoping that his side can build on that momentum and secure 3 league points - We head to Brisbane Road for our first league away game of the 2023/24 campaign.

MANAGER

Former pro midfielder Richie Wellens is at the helm for the O’s. 

The 43-year-old began his career at Manchester United before signing for Blackpool in 2000, where he achieved promotion to League One via the Play-Offs.

Wellens went on to also play for the likes of Oldham Athletic, Leicester City and Doncaster Rovers, retiring at Macclesfield Town in 2017.

He began his managerial career at Oldham Athletic and went on to take charge of Swindon Town in the summer of 2018, leading the club to the 2019/20 League Two title via points per game as a result of COVID curtailing the season.

Wellens went on to manage Salford City, taking the club to victory in the delayed EFL Trophy Final, securing a 4-2 penalty shootout victory against Portsmouth.

Wellens took charge of Leyton Orient in March 2022 after a short stint at Doncaster, signing a 2-and-a-half-year deal.

An unbeaten start to the 2022/23 season kickstarted a great campaign for Orient, who went on to record promotion back to League One earlier this year.

ONE TO WATCH

Former Portsmouth loanee Joe Pigott signed for Orient on July 21st, putting pen-to-paper on a 2-year deal at Brisbane Road.

The 29-year-old 6 foot striker found the back of the net just 4 times across 35 appearances for the Blues last season.

This year at Orient, Pigott will wear the number 9 shirt.

TOP SCORER

Orient have not yet found the back of the net this season, following back-to-back goalless returns in both league and cup.

However last campaign, in their League Two title winning season, 25-year-old Paul Smyth was the club’s leading scorer.

The striker bagged 10 league goals last season and, as a result, earned himself a move to Queens Park Rangers this summer.

CURRENT FORM

The O’s got off to the campaign with consecutive defeats, losing 1-0 away at Charlton on the opening day of the league season before suffering a 2-0 loss at Plymouth in the Carabao Cup in midweek.

Last time out between these 2 sides it was Pompey on the winning side of a 5-2 scoreline at Brisbane Road, that was a friendly in July last year which had been held behind closed doors on account of the extreme heat in England that week.

Can the Blues pick up their first league win of the season?

Catch all of the unmissable action on Pompey Live, this Saturday from 2pm on 93.7 Express FM, DAB Digital Radio, iFollow Pompey or the brand new Express FM app!